Fire escape system



Jan. 14, 1964 B. L. SINGER ETAL FIRE ESCAPE SYSTEM Filed Nov. 17, 1961 INVENTORS. BEN L. SINGER and CARL J. FUCH.5,'J!:

@QWWW A {far/rays United States Patent 3,117,651 ESQAPE SYSTEM Ben L. Singer, Pittsburgh, and Carl J. Fuchs, In, Ross Township, Allegheny (Iounty, Pen, assignors to Liam-A- Scape Products, Inc, Pittsburgh, Pin, a corporation of 'Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 17, 196i, Ser. No. 153,074 1 (Ilaim. (Cl. 182-85) This invention relates to a fire escape system, and, more particularly, to a fire escape system having collapsible ladders arranged in conjunction with platforms attached to a building at positions above ground level.

Known fire escape systems attached to the exterior walls of buildings generally are cumbersome and, accordingly, occupy a large amount of space when supported by the building wall. lso, the fire escapes heretofore known are either accessible from the ground to intruders or have steps or ladders which swing about a pivotal axis above the ground level. The swinging or cantilevered ladder is lowered by the weight of persons escaping the building on the fire escape system, and are therefore hazardous to operate.

The present invention envisions the employment of collapsible ladders which extend from one floor of a building to the next. A platform having rads is positioned at each floor level and is associated with the collapsible ladders in a fashion whereby the ladders are operable from a collapsed to an extended condition only at the platform levels to render the ladders capable of being traversed. If the ladders are forced to an extended position or are negligently opened, the platforms are inaccessible to a person climbing the ladder because a railing portion of the platform swmgs open only when the ladders are in collapsed condition by reason of the spacial relationship of the ladder in extended condition and the arc through which the platform railing portion may open.

An object of the invention is to provide a fire escape system having ladders collapsible against a building wall to maintain the space adjacent the wall substantially unobstructed.

Another object of this invention is t e provision of a tire escape system which is capable of operation only by persons positioned on platforms which are located above ground level beyond the reach of intruders.

A further object is to provide a fire escape system vherein platforms comprising a part of the invention are inaccessible to one climbing a ladder which has been forced to an extended condition.

A fire escape system illustrating certain features of the invention may include a platform with vertical side rails including a gate, and a collapsible ladder disposed adjacent the platform, the gate opening only when the ladder is in collapsed condition.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view the fire escape system with pairs of collapsible ladders joined by balconies;

PEG. 2 depicts an enlarged view of a pair of the ladders of PEG. 1 in collapsed condition; and,

FIG. 3 shows schematically the spacial relationship between a ladder and the railing gate of the platform.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1, which illustrates a preferred embodiment, a fire escape system designated generally as numeral 11. A platform or balcony 12 is shown attached firmly by suitable means not shown to a building wall 13 at each floor level at which an open- See ing 14 such as a window, a door, or the like, provides access to the platform from within the building. A rail- 15 may be of a height and configuration impossible to scale, or as shown, of a height to be sealed easily, is fixed to the floor 16 of the balcony 12 by suitable means such as welding, for example. 7

One end of the balcony railing 15 is hinged to form a gate 17 which swings inwardly about a corner post 18 of the railing to enable one on the platform to step from the platform floor 16 to a rung of a collapsible ladder 19 when extended in a plane normal to the building wall 13.

The ladders 19 and 21, which are generally of the same construction are each provided with a latch mechanism 22 which is spring-loaded whereby the ladder side rails 23 and 24 are separated by manual tripping of a lever 25 which is linked to catches, not shown. The catches maintain the rails in collapsed condition by the spring-loaded mechanism 22 until the lever 25 is pulled. The rungs 26 of the ladders 19 and 21 are attached pivotally to the rails 23 and 2.4, and a cross-brace 27 limits the extent of travel of the rail 23 with respect to the rail 24 such that the rungs 26 extend from positions parallel to rail 24 to positions making angles of ninety degrees with the longitudinal axis of the rail 24.

Both ladders 19 and 21 have the one rail 24 fixed by means of brackets 28 to the building wall 13, the other rail 23 swinging outwardly from the wall 13 in the plane which includes the rail 24. For compactness the rail 23 and rungs 26 are received into the channel forming rail 24- when the ladders are collapsed. The ladder 19, PEG. 2, is supported not only by the wall 13, but also the ground 2? when the ladder is extended for use.

The ladder 21 is also supported by the wall 13 by suitable means such as brackets 28, and, additionally, by the floor 16 of the balcony 12 when the ladder is in extended position. Since the ladders 19 and 21 are in part supported by the ground 29 and the door 16, respectively, the ladder structure may be formed of light-weight material which i not particularly noted for its strength characteristics. Also, the brackets 23 may be of light-weight material since theweight of the rungs 2.6 and the rail 23 is distributed to the ground 29 or floor 15 through the rail 24, and to the brackets 23 when the ladder is colla, sed. Similarly, when the ladders are extended for use by an escapee, the weight of the person and the ladders is distributed substantially to the floor 16 or the ground 2?. The brackets 28, therefore, principally serve to maintain the ladders 1? and 21 in vertical alignment against the wall 13.

The positioning of the railing gate 17 with respect to the ladder 19 is best shown in PEG. 3. When the ladder 19 is extended from its collapsed condition before the gate 17 is opened, the gate cannot be opened sufficiently to allow passage of a person in the space between the open ladder and the partially open gate 17 since the arcuate path through which the gate should swing is obstructed by the extended ladder. On the other hand, if the gate is first swung open, and then the ladder 1 is extended, access rom the ladder 19 to the balcony 12 and vice versa is available. A suitable catch or stop, not shown, fastened to the wall 13, for example, retains the free end of the gate in position so as to close the end of the balcony when it is not being traveled in an escape action. The arrangement of the gate and ladder adjacent thereto in this fashion renders the platforms accessible only when the sequence of opening the gate prior to the extension of the ladder is followed.

It is manifest that the above-described embodiment of the invention is merely illustrative and that numerous modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, it will be understood that the particular balcony illustrated is only an example of one type of balcony whichmay be operated upon in practicing the invention, and that the invention is not limited to use with this one type of balcony or collapsible ladder.

What is claimed is:

A fire escape system for buildings comprising ladders collapsible against a wall of the building and extendible in a plane normal to the building, latch means-for maintaining the ladders locked in collapsed condition, latch unlocking means for opening the ladders from a collapsed to an extended condition where the ladder rungs are exposed for use, railed platforms attached to the building at each floor level each with one end adjacent the uppermost section of each ladder and .spaced therefrom a distance to enable a person to pass therebetween, a gate at one end of each'of the platforms having a path of travel interrupted by the adjacent uppermost section of a ladder only when the ladder is in extended condition, the other end of each of the platforms supporting adjacent the railing the lowermost section of each ladder within the platform rail, the latch means and unlocking means being connected to the uppermost section of each ladder and operable from its adjacent platform and the platforms being staggered horizontally whereby an escape route is established from an upper platfornlthrough the platform gate onto a collapsible open ladder, down the ladder to a lower platform Within the platform rails, horizontally across the platform, through the lower platform gate onto another open ladder, and down the ladder to a lower platform within the railing thereof and so on.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 388,829 Clark Sept. 4, 1888 398,479 Weaver Feb-26,1889 1,460,479 Dixon July 3, 1923 1,640,702 Hodgson Aug. 30, 1927 1,819,073 Chinich Aug. 18, 1931 

